“As a Black woman, illustrating Sojourner Truth was especially personal and meaningful to me,” Wise said in a statement. “Her journey and persistence inspired major change in both rights for enslaved African-Americans and women. Her history is deeply rooted to my ancestors and others around the world. ”

Truth was born Isabella Baumfree to slave parents in Ulster County, New York, in 1797. She escaped to freedom with her infant daughter but was forced to leave her other children behind in 1826.

In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, we celebrate American abolitionist Sojourner Truth, who escaped from slavery & became a powerful advocate for justice & equality everywhere.

She became a traveling preacher and published a renowned memoir in 1850, in which she recounted her time in slavery. One year later, Truth delivered the famous “Ain’t I Woman” speech at a women’s rights conference in Akron, Ohio.

The abolitionist later became one of the first Black women to successfully sue a White man, after she took action against her former slavemaster for the illegal sale of her 5-year-old son.

The scene outside of the courthouse is what is referenced in Wise’s Google Doodle.

“Without her work and the awareness Sojourner spread, the US would not be what it currently is today! It’s important to lift up her legacy and reflect on that,” the artist said about the importance of the illustration.

According to the U.S. Treasury, Truth will be featured alongside other suffragists on the $10 bill, which will be unveiled in 2020 to mark the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote.

This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the privacy policy. If you want to know more or withdraw your consent to all or some of the cookies, please refer to the privacy policy.
By closing this banner, scrolling on this page, clicking a link or continuing to browse otherwise, you agree to the use of cookies.OkRead more